We don't know what soma was originally. The rig veda is a love poem to this plant and central to early Hinduism. LSD shows you your subconscious mind's fears, potentials, cultural games and imprints. Ayahuasca purges toxins and bad energy (via vomiting) and opens you up to plant/ spirit communication or maybe it's your own higher self.
Entering non-ordinary reality, whilst having an electroencephalogram, happened to me. I had not planned this to happen, but happen, it did. It was recorded, and when I next went to see the neurologist, after giving me the results of my EEG the doctor said there was something going on in the front of my brain, which they did not understand. I understood, but chose to say nothing to trouble the good doctor. It was interesting, all the same.
ny individual who uses techniques to attain a constant foothold in all realm percieved or otherwise. Once this foothold is established a shaman takes upon the duty of acting as ambassador between them. Shaman's are not linked to culture but culture is linked to shamans.
I have done very little research on Shaman or Shamanism and this gentalman seem's wise and has done a good bit of research.some speak of certain plant's to reach this state of mind and this may be true,yet my life's experance with elder family tell's me that mind ultering plant's dont have to get a person to that relm,my Gr Mother who has passed was at complete peace and now she travel's as a CROW watching over family and fly's in and speak's to us to help during time's that are tough,
@FreeWorldOrder911 For the record, Ayahuasca is legal in parts of South America, and certain churches in the US have been granted permission to use it religiously.
I met Michael Harner in 1985. He used psychedelics, but after studying with Lakota and Siberian shamans began teaching others the secrets of the trance through drumming. He explains this in his book The Way of the Shaman, which is available on his web site. In other words, you can experience a Shamanic Journey without DMT. This is not to say that DMT and drumming are at all the same thing, but that if your interest is in healing your self and others, it can be accomplished without drugs. The Otherworld is closer than you think.
The death he is referring to, can be replicated with many psychedelics. It is the death of the ego, not the physical body. To many people who have a rather troublesome and complex ego. The death experience can be horrifying. And can take more than one experience to fully complete. To other people who have very little ego problems, the experience can be very beautiful, and more like a gentle walk home. That's why when it is stated, that every psychedelic can have a very different effect on each individual. What is different the amount of ego being dealt with. The lesson from the teacher is always at a constant. The lesson to remove ones ego. Modern religions do not tackle this issue, and seem to misdirect people away from it. Buddhism is the closest faith to Shamanism, but still very contrived. And it just so happens that Buddhism does not call itself a religion. It also arises from Bon, which arises from ancient Asian shamanism. Buddhism is an amalgamation of local ancient tradition, shamanism, and vedic knowledge. But nowhere in its texts does it recognise its true roots in Shamanism. Buddha was a Shaman. Unyet the high Llamas, and priests refuse to acknowledge him. Disrespectful on my opinion. And very suspicious.
If he wasn't claiming to teach authentic shamanism from a specific culture but rather a version inspired by them, aimed at westerners, I don't see what's so bad about that, if the practices work and people have found them useful. We're all humans, trying our best to make sense of life. We all in daily life eat, drink, use, do and think things that ultimately derive from many parts of the world.
I have some problems with Harner's approach that nobody is picking up on. Harner is not indigenous and he did not grow up in an indigenous community so his thinking is primarily Eurocentric. Other anthropologists since him have looked at shamanism at different parts of the world and come up with different views of shamanism. There is no set of shamanic practices that are universal or standard. in fact shamanism differs so much in beliefs and practices that most traditions are so different that they are incomprehensible to other traditions. Some traditions do not have the three worlds or even have drumming or trance states. They use other techniques entirely. Another crucial thing to point out is that most if not all indigenous nations in North America never ever share their traditions and sacred teachings with outsiders, especially non indigenous people. Why would they give away their power and secrets to their colonial masters? Evangelical Christians are still putting aboriginal spirituality under attack and declaring it devil worship. Yes colonialism is alive and well and so are beliefs in European superiority. I grew up in the Arctic in an indigenous community and my sister lived in Nunavut for 50 plus years and speaks fluent Inuktitut. She was married to an Inuk who practiced shamanism. We are not aboriginal and we would never presume to understand that tradition even though we grew up in it and absorbed native values. Commodifying that tradition to be absorbed by outsiders truly is cultural appropriation and while i think Harner was sincerely interested in shamanism, he should have known better than to present it as his school and commodify it for westerner consumption. Indigenous people do have some serious concerns about his presentation. In First Nations traditions shamanic practice is considered very dangerous and an initiate went through a long apprenticeship and an initiation ceremony that was hazardous. No short term classes from an institution. My sister told me of one shamanic initiation ceremony in her Inuit community where the initiate spent six days underwater. Luckily he survived, but not all initiates did survive. Journeying to the otherworld is very dangerous and not always successful. Connecting with spirits can be a negative experience. In some traditions the attempts to work with or "master" the spirit could backfire horribly because this was not always a successful partnership. In many traditions shamanism was used for sorcery rather than healing and the need for ethical use of power is seldom considered or taught properly. It also needs to be stressed that shamanism deals with power and this necessitates that practitioners must be in control of their ego. Recently I saw a documentary online of modern shamanism based on Harner's teaching. I was horrified to see non indigenous people doing ceremonies mimicing North American indigenous ceremonies that mocked and insulted indigenous people. The sad thing is that they were totally unaware that this was even insulting. Surely they could come up with new ceremonies. The saddest thing I saw was new shamanism being introduced in Ireland to people who claimed that this was helping them reclaim their ancient traditions. The world needs healing based on strengthening connection with the natural world, but we must create something not appropriated from indigenous people.
Man - way to kill the Shaman vibe with dullness. Same head-trip and bible key-notes. We've all been there. Not sure you're getting the full scope of a Shaman's promise.......
What a guy, thank God for all his work.
My teacher. Just hearing his voice brings me back to my time with him🙏
Man, I love listening to Michael.
a delight. First time i got to hear and see Dr. Harner speak, thank you for posting!
This man is still way ahead of his time.
I am studying this authors book at present. Very interesting.
Those who know - know.
We don't know what soma was originally. The rig veda is a love poem to this plant and central to early Hinduism. LSD shows you your subconscious mind's fears, potentials, cultural games and imprints. Ayahuasca purges toxins and bad energy (via vomiting) and opens you up to plant/ spirit communication or maybe it's your own higher self.
Good stuff.
Entering non-ordinary reality, whilst having an electroencephalogram, happened to me. I had not planned this to happen, but happen, it did. It was recorded, and when I next went to see the neurologist, after giving me the results of my EEG the doctor said there was something going on in the front of my brain, which they did not understand. I understood, but chose to say nothing to trouble the good doctor. It was interesting, all the same.
ny individual who uses techniques to attain a constant foothold in all realm percieved or otherwise. Once this foothold is established a shaman takes upon the duty of acting as ambassador between them. Shaman's are not linked to culture but culture is linked to shamans.
I have done very little research on Shaman or Shamanism and this gentalman seem's wise and has done a good bit of research.some speak of certain plant's to reach this state of mind and this may be true,yet my life's experance with elder family tell's me that mind ultering plant's dont have to get a person to that relm,my Gr Mother who has passed was at complete peace and now she travel's as a CROW watching over family and fly's in and speak's to us to help during time's that are tough,
His work was required reading in my cultural anthropology class, I think he's pretty wise too.
@FreeWorldOrder911 For the record, Ayahuasca is legal in parts of South America, and certain churches in the US have been granted permission to use it religiously.
what was his relationship like with Terrance and Dennis McKenna?
I met Michael Harner in 1985. He used psychedelics, but after studying with Lakota and Siberian shamans began teaching others the secrets of the trance through drumming. He explains this in his book The Way of the Shaman, which is available on his web site. In other words, you can experience a Shamanic Journey without DMT. This is not to say that DMT and drumming are at all the same thing, but that if your interest is in healing your self and others, it can be accomplished without drugs. The Otherworld is closer than you think.
The death he is referring to, can be replicated with many psychedelics. It is the death of the ego, not the physical body.
To many people who have a rather troublesome and complex ego. The death experience can be horrifying. And can take more than one experience to fully complete.
To other people who have very little ego problems, the experience can be very beautiful, and more like a gentle walk home.
That's why when it is stated, that every psychedelic can have a very different effect on each individual. What is different the amount of ego being dealt with. The lesson from the teacher is always at a constant. The lesson to remove ones ego.
Modern religions do not tackle this issue, and seem to misdirect people away from it.
Buddhism is the closest faith to Shamanism, but still very contrived. And it just so happens that Buddhism does not call itself a religion. It also arises from Bon, which arises from ancient Asian shamanism. Buddhism is an amalgamation of local ancient tradition, shamanism, and vedic knowledge. But nowhere in its texts does it recognise its true roots in Shamanism.
Buddha was a Shaman. Unyet the high Llamas, and priests refuse to acknowledge him. Disrespectful on my opinion. And very suspicious.
I will be your friend
If he wasn't claiming to teach authentic shamanism from a specific culture but rather a version inspired by them, aimed at westerners, I don't see what's so bad about that, if the practices work and people have found them useful. We're all humans, trying our best to make sense of life. We all in daily life eat, drink, use, do and think things that ultimately derive from many parts of the world.
He looks like Ben Bernanke's brother.... He must be the smart one in the family...
I have some problems with Harner's approach that nobody is picking up on. Harner is not indigenous and he did not grow up in an indigenous community so his thinking is primarily Eurocentric. Other anthropologists since him have looked at shamanism at different parts of the world and come up with different views of shamanism. There is no set of shamanic practices that are universal or standard. in fact shamanism differs so much in beliefs and practices that most traditions are so different that they are incomprehensible to other traditions. Some traditions do not have the three worlds or even have drumming or trance states. They use other techniques entirely. Another crucial thing to point out is that most if not all indigenous nations in North America never ever share their traditions and sacred teachings with outsiders, especially non indigenous people. Why would they give away their power and secrets to their colonial masters? Evangelical Christians are still putting aboriginal spirituality under attack and declaring it devil worship. Yes colonialism is alive and well and so are beliefs in European superiority. I grew up in the Arctic in an indigenous community and my sister lived in Nunavut for 50 plus years and speaks fluent Inuktitut. She was married to an Inuk who practiced shamanism. We are not aboriginal and we would never presume to understand that tradition even though we grew up in it and absorbed native values. Commodifying that tradition to be absorbed by outsiders truly is cultural appropriation and while i think Harner was sincerely interested in shamanism, he should have known better than to present it as his school and commodify it for westerner consumption. Indigenous people do have some serious concerns about his presentation. In First Nations traditions shamanic practice is considered very dangerous and an initiate went through a long apprenticeship and an initiation ceremony that was hazardous. No short term classes from an institution. My sister told me of one shamanic initiation ceremony in her Inuit community where the initiate spent six days underwater. Luckily he survived, but not all initiates did survive. Journeying to the otherworld is very dangerous and not always successful. Connecting with spirits can be a negative experience. In some traditions the attempts to work with or "master" the spirit could backfire horribly because this was not always a successful partnership. In many traditions shamanism was used for sorcery rather than healing and the need for ethical use of power is seldom considered or taught properly. It also needs to be stressed that shamanism deals with power and this necessitates that practitioners must be in control of their ego. Recently I saw a documentary online of modern shamanism based on Harner's teaching. I was horrified to see non indigenous people doing ceremonies mimicing North American indigenous ceremonies that mocked and insulted indigenous people. The sad thing is that they were totally unaware that this was even insulting. Surely they could come up with new ceremonies. The saddest thing I saw was new shamanism being introduced in Ireland to people who claimed that this was helping them reclaim their ancient traditions. The world needs healing based on strengthening connection with the natural world, but we must create something not appropriated from indigenous people.
The meaning of the word shaman is not that important
Man - way to kill the Shaman vibe with dullness. Same head-trip and bible key-notes. We've all been there. Not sure you're getting the full scope of a Shaman's promise.......
My friend, you should journey and you will recognize when a man speaks simple truth. As Michael Harner does here.
#Book/10025¹
#EE.UU. 🎩